Former Hun Star Dudeck Hits Ground Running, Starting First Camp With Boston College Football

GONE CAMPING: Dave Dudeck eludes a foe in action last fall in his senior season with the Hun School football team. Dudeck, who made 50 catches for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns to help Hun go 7-1 in 2011, started preseason camp last week with the Boston College football program. The 6’0, 195-pound Dudeck will be looking to get playing time at strong safety this fall in his freshman campaign for the Eagles. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For many high school athletes, putting in two hours of hard work at practice on a daily basis and giving 100 percent in games satisfies their desire to succeed.

But for David Dudeck, that kind of effort marked a bare minimum. The recent Hun School graduate typically arrived at school each morning around 6 a.m. to do speed and explosiveness drills with Hun trainers. He also fit in weight training sessions and worked on pass patterns during free periods in the fall.

Dudeck’s combination of athleticism and work ethic helped him produce one of the more impressive two-sport careers in recent Hun history.

On the baseball diamond, Dudeck was an All-Prep A centerfielder who led the Raiders to Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and Prep A titles. In football, the 6’0, 195-pound Dudeck starred at quarterback as a junior in 2010. As a senior this past fall, he moved to receiver and used his 4.47 speed in the 40-yard dash to make 50 catches for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns as he earned New Jersey Prep Player of the Year honors and helped Hun go 7-1.

Dudeck’s two-sport prowess caught the eye of a slew of college baseball and football programs. With his heart set on experiencing big-time college football, Dudeck decided to accept a scholarship from Boston College (BC) and join its football program.

Last week, Dudeck started preseason camp with BC, playing at strong safety as he looks to make an immediate impact for the Eagles.

It was Dudeck’s performance at BC’s one-day camp in June, 2011 that got him on the radar of the Eagle coaches. The camp started at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday and the night before, Dudeck was at a summer baseball tournament that didn’t end until 11:45 p.m. After the tournament, Dudeck drove straight to Boston arriving at 5 a.m. in the morning. He had just enough time to take a two-hour nap before the camp started.

Overcoming fatigue, Dudeck produced an outstanding camp and was able to impress the BC coaches enough to prompt communication throughout the 2011 football season.

“Boston College has always been a dream school for me, so I knew that If I ever wanted a chance I had to go there and perform for them live,” said Dudeck, reflecting on the one-day camp.

“I was like, this is a chance of a lifetime and I’m not going to let anything get in my way.”

Last February that dream came true for Dudeck as he signed a letter of intent with BC, choosing the school over Yale and Navy, his other top choices.

Once the recruiting process ended, the coaching staff’s main concern turns to getting their incoming freshmen prepared for the upcoming season. “Now you’re a BC Eagle, and they want you in the best possible shape for when you come in to camp,” said Dudeck.

As part of that effort, Dudeck moved on to campus June 24 with 15 other members from the class of 2016. As soon as the freshmen arrived, the rookies hit the ground running with workouts and classes.

“Now that you are here, they (coaches) are checking up on you everyday to make sure you are going to class, getting your homework done, and getting your workouts in,” said Dudeck.

Mirroring his Hun routine, Dudeck had a jam-packed schedule in the build-up to preseason camp. He woke up at 5:15 a.m. for morning workouts followed by classes from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. He would then grab a quick lunch before heading to 7-on-7 practices from 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Then it was back to the books for tutoring and study hall from 4 to 6 p.m. The day ended with a night class from 6:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Despite being on the go all day, Dudeck has been able to develop bonds with his freshmen teammates.

“One thing I was happy about was how fast we all became so close,” said Dudeck. “Now we all do everything together.”

In Dudeck’s view, getting to campus in June had a variety of benefits. “Coming here early, getting to be a part of the team, knowing the guys, learning the system, getting adjusted to classes, and just adjusting to life away from family is huge,” said Dudeck. “I definitely miss my family but I talk to everyone at least once a day.”

As he accomplishes his goal of joining a big-time college football program, Dudeck plans to continue his habit of making the most of everyday.

“My mindset going in is that Boston College is an incredible football program so everything that God has blessed me with I want to take there,” asserted Dudeck.

“I want to be a leader there. I want to motivate and push my teammates so that we can bring home a national championship. Those are my goals.”